Drifting-valve.



G. F. WIESECKEL. DHIFTING VALVE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2a. IsII.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918. 2 sHEITs-sHEEI I G. F. WIESECKEL. DRIFTING VALVE. APPLICATION man ri. 23. |911.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CII

GEORGE F. WIESECKEL, OF HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND.

DRIFTING-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, '1918.

Application filed February 23, 1917. Serial No. 150,477.

To all when 'it may conce/Jin.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. iVrnsnciinL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Hagerstown, Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driftiilg-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to drifting valves for locomotives to supply saturated steam to the valve chest of the cylinders to prevent lthe lubricating oil from burning, depositing carbon, and al'l'ecting the action of the valve, when the supcrheated steam is cut olf, and it consists in the features and combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described.

.ln the accompanying' drawings;

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the drifting valve in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view in open position.

Fi 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. -1 is a diagrammatic view of the sys tem.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a cut off valve 'in the engineers cab, forming part of the system, with a cam on the reverse lever in operative position relative thereto, this vieW being a section substantially on the line .5.-5 of Fig. 4;.

Referring to Fig. Ll A is the engine cylinder, B the steam chest thereof. C the pipe for supplying superhcatcd steam to the steam chest for driving the engine.

D represents the drifting valve, which, when 'the engine is drifting, is in communication with the steam chest by the pipe a.. l the saturated Steam supply pipe, l) a pipe leading therefrom to the drifting valve casingf and c is a globe valve in said pipe which is opened when the engine leaves the round-house and is not shut off until the engine has been placed out of service, at its destination. F indicates the ordinary reversing lever, which, as iin ordinary practice` placed in neutral position when the nmgine is at rest. G represents generally a valve which is opened to supply steam through branch pipe Z for setting a valve at 1;: for cutting or'l' the drift valve from the steam chest of the engine when the reverse valve is set in neutral position, and the engine is to remain at rest as will be more particularly described hereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 1 indicates the main easing of the drifting valve having a port 2 for the inlet of the saturated steam and a discharge portleading` through pipe a to thc steam chest B of the engine cylinder.

In this casing` a piston valve 4C is slidably mounted having a beveled cud to fit a seat on the removable ring 5' at the inlet openii g 2. This piston valve has within it an auxiliary valve member 7 having a head 8 of conical form to fit a conical seat 8 on the interior of thc main valve et. The stem of the auxiliary valve is screw-tln'eaded into a socket piece 9 to bear on the end of thc stem 6 of a piston 17 hereinafter referred to. The auxiliary valve has an axial passage 10 with ports 11 and 12 extending latorally at front and rear, the front ports opening through the neck of the valve in rear of the conical head and its seat and the rear ports opening out through the socket member into a chamber 13 formed between the rear face of the main valve and the head 14 of the valve casing. The auxiliary valve is movable in relation to the main valve. l/Vhen in its rear position relative to `the main valve as shown in Fig. Q its head is on the conical seat in the main valve and no steam can then pass into chamber 13, but when the auxiliary valve is moved forward relative to the main valve then steam can pass through the space 8, Fig. 1, and the. ports 11 and passage 10, and ports 12 into the chamber 13. The amount of movement of the auxiliary valve in relation to the main valve is determined in one direction by the shoulders 15 on the auxiliary valve coming against the shoulder' 15 on the main valve and in the other direction by the auxiliary valve head 8 coming against its seat.

The movement of the main valve -1 to the right is limited by its exterior shoulder el* coming against a complementary shoulder on the interior of the valve casing. This shoulder aids in preventing leakage of steam to the chamber at the right of the main valve and limits the movement of the main valve and consequently of the auxiliary valve earried thereby so that the auxiliary valve will not be opened by coming against the wall of the casing.

As above stated the rear end of the auxiliary valve is borne upon by the end of the stem of the piston. This stem passes through a stuffing box 16 in the head of the main valve casing. The piston 17 is slidable in a cylinder 18 bolted te the head of the valve casingwith suitable packing interposed. il. passage 19 extends from the discharge port 8 to the cylinder 18 in rear of the piston 17.

17V hile the engine is ruiming the drifting valve is clos-ed notwithstanding the tact that the valve c is open and saturated steam can reach the drifting valre, this closed position of the drittingwilve being due to the fact that the pressure oit the superheated steam in the steam chest is exerted through the lipe a, port 3, passage 19 and the cylinder 18 at the r t of the relatively large diameter piston ,1l which, having moved leftward, and having opened the auxiliaryTV valve allows the pressure from the saturated steam pipe to pass into the chamber 13, and thus moves and holds the main valve d to its seat, the pressure ot' the saturated steam in chamber 13 acting on the main piston valve augmenting the eil-lect o1 the pressure against the piston 17.

llll'hcn the supcrheated steam is out oli from the engine cylinder, and the engine drifts pressure is immediately reduced in cylinder 1S baci; et piston 17, and thesaturated steam at boiler pressure, supplied through valve c to the drifting valve l through the port 2, forces the valve to its open position shown in Fig. 2, allowing this saturated steam to pass to the steam chest of engine cylinder to act .s a carrier for the lubricant and heep it from burning, it being` understood that the pressure in the chamber 13 will not be trapped but will pass olf through the auxiliary valv lhe opening ot the drift valve by the saturated steam pressure is due to the cutting oli et the superheated steam and the consequent reduction ol" pressure in the cylinder 18 bach of piston 17.

rllhe valve having opened to the position shown .in lig. saturated steam will now be supplied to the steam chest as long as the engine drifts, the exhaust taking place through the usual exhaust ports oit the cylinder.

lfhen the engine stops the bach pressure ci? the saturated steam will build up owing to there being no further exhaust `from 'the cylinder and havingbuilt up to ten pounds in the rear of the piston 17 through the passage 19 and th area ot this piston being greater than the area of the front end ot' the auxiliary valve the piston will move to the lett and will open the auxiliary balance valve, allowimi,` the pressure to get into chamber 13, which pressure added to that on the rear ot piston 17 will torce and keep the main valve to its seat, thus cutting 03d the supply of saturated steam to the steam chest or" the cylinder. p

' During the above described action of forcing themain valve to its seat the auxiliary valve Erst will be moved trom its seat', due

naeasii to the lost motion between the shoulders 15 and 15', and thus a passage will be opened for the saturated steam pressure throughl the space 8 between the head of the auxiliary valve and its seat, thence through the ports 11, the axial passage 10, and the ports 12 into the chamber 13, where acting upon the rear face of the main valve the effect will be to hold this in closed position, in which position it remains while the engine is at rest. lWhen starting up the engine from a temporary stop the saturated steam being constantly on and the drifting valve being open the superheated steam supplied for runiiiing the engine being under higher pressure than the saturated steam will pass bach through the luy-pass .19 into chamber 18 back et piston 17 and will operate the auxiliary valve to allow access of pressure into chamber 13 and the main valve will close.

A similar closing action takes place when alter drifting for the desired length ot' time the engineer opens the throttle and supplies super-heated steam :tor driving.` The greater pressure will pass from the steam chest to the rear ot piston 17 and will operate the same leitward to open the auxiliary valve, allowing pressure to get into chamber 13 and thus through the pressure in rear ot' piston 17 augmented by that in chamber 13 the main valve will be forced to its seat.

rlhe auxiliar valve allowing as it doesv the boiler pressure to enter the chamber 13 insures that the main valve will remain closed until the pressure against piston 17 'is suliiciently reduced. Y

The boiler pressure passing through the auxiliary valve to the chamber 13 will hold the main valve closed until the pressure against the piston 17 is reduced to say about five pounds before the main valve will open again.

By the use of the chamber 131er receiving pressure back of the main valve I may employ a small diameter piston at 17 and only ten pounds pressure is needed here to atleet the closing ci the main valve.

When the engine is standing still ywith main valve closed, the auxiliary valve is open, allowing the full boiler pressure to get into chamber 13 and because of thearea exposed on the auxiliary valve socket and its ringV or flange 8X the auxiliary valvewill be held open (and main valve closed) until the pressure in chamber back oit piston 17 has been entirely reduced, whereupon the auxiliary valve will close and kcut off pressure from chamber 13 and main valve Itwill then open and saturated' steam will pass to the engine and ybach pressure from this will movepiston 17 open auxiliary valve again and allow pressiire to enter chamber 13,

whereupon main' valve will close again and.

be held closed until pressure back of piston 'i7 is again entirely reduced and this action will be repeated at intervals as long as the engine stands still.

l also provide means whereby the dritting valve system may be cut ell entirely trom the engine cylinder steam chest, this action taking place as a result ot the engineer placing the member F, known as the reverse lever, in neutral position when the engine is to be lett standing. This lever can be setin various positions by a usual detent, not shown, and a segment 7.

llhen moved to neutral or middle posi tion, as shown, it operates the valve G opening communication through the pipe (t for the passage et the saturated steam to the cylinder c, where acting on a piston e it drives the same inwardly and causes a `valve member l carried by said piston to close the passage through the drifting valve cas ing leading to discharge port 3, so that there can be no 'tui-ther flow ot saturated steam into the engine cylinder. This attachment is provided as a safeguard against steam leakage or ii for any reason the engineer wants te entirely cut otll the drifting valve system trom the engine cylinder. This cut oli` is in a sense automatic, in that its action takes place as a result ot' the engineer per- :torming the usual act of setting the reverse lever l? in neutral position.

ln order to drain the pipe cheek valve at .71l opening upwardly by spring pressure, but closing by the steam pressure above it, so that when steam is on in the pipe CZ the valve 7L will be closed, but when steam through said pipe is cut ott' the valve will open by the spring and will drain into the ash pan. A pipe it* extends `from this valve.

ln order to operate the valve GV `the lever li is provided with a cam member f which acts on the stem et the valve and opens it. This cam member has a notch 7" in which the end et the valve stem seats.

lt will be noted that the main valve casing carries as one body the cylinder 18, the part having the passage lt), and the part through which the discharge port 3 is termed and the mounting for the shut-eti valve e including its piston and cylinder.

T he passage between the inlet port 2 and the discharge port 3 is oit special formation, as shown in Fig. 3, said passage extending part way around the valve casing through a part built up thereon.

l do not limit myself to the precise con struction illustrated and described herein, this illustration being by way ot an example est one physical embodiment oi' my in vention.

rllne socket piece or nut 9 is held on the stem ot the valve by a pin 9X.

l show at l a drain opening l I provide a tor the chamber 123, at lX a. drain from cylinder l, and at e a drain opening for the chamber ol the cut-otl3 valve g.

The shoulder in the main valve against which an opposing shoulder on the auxiliary valve seats serves to hold lthe pressure in chamber 1.3 from passing back along the outer side et' the auxiliary valve.

Having thus fully described my invention what l claim as new is:

l. ln combination in a drifting valve for locomotives, a casing, a main valve therein with a chamber in rear of said main valve to receive steam pressure, said main valve controlling the supply of saturated steam to the engine, an auxiliary valve to admit saturated steam supply to said chamber to assist in holding the valve to its seat, a piston, and cylinder for controlling the position of the auxiliary valve, and a connection between said cylinder and the steam chest to supply pressure to said cylinder' to close the main valve against the saturated steam pressure and open the auxiliary valve, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a drifting valve for locomotives, a casing, a main valve therein controlling the supply of saturated steam to the steam chest et the locomotive, a chamber tor saturated steam back of the main valve, an auxiliary valve admitting steam to said chamber for assisting in holding the main valve closed, a steam cylinder, and a piston therein for receiving saturated steam pressure or superheated steam pressure Jtor controlling the said auxiliary valve, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a drifting valve for locomotives, a casing, a main valve with a chamber in rear thereof, said main valve controlling a port vfor supplying saturated steam to the engine, an auxiliary valve car ried by and movable in relation to the main valve, and controlling communication between said chamber, and the saturated steam supply, whereby steam pressure may be supplied to said chamber for assisting in holding the main valve closed, and a piston and cylinder, the said piston actingupon the auxiliary valve to open it and said cylinder communicating with the steam chest of the engine, substantially as described.

et. In combination in a drifting valve for locomotives, a casing, a main valve with a chamber in rear thereof, said main valve controlling a port for supplying saturated steam to the engine, an auxiliary valve carried by and movable in relation to the main valve, and controlling communication between said chamber and the saturated steam supply, whereby steam pressure may be supplied to said chamber tor assisting in holding the main valve closed, and a piston and cylinder, the said piston acting upon the auxiliary valve to open it and said cylinder communicating With the steam chest of the engine, through the port of said casing which communicates with the engine steam chest, substantially as described.

`5. In combination in a drifting valve, a casing, a main valve slidably mounted therein, and controlling a port supplying saturated steam to the engine, said valve being exposed on its front face to the pressure of said steam., said casing having a chamber in rearjof the main valve, an auxiliary valve slidable, With and axially in relation to the main valve and controlling communication between the saturated steam supply on the front side of said valve, and the chamber inrearof s aidvalve, a piston slidable coaxially vin respect to the main and supplemental valves, a cylinder in which said piston islocated, said cylinder communicatingvvith the steam chest to receive pressure therefrom, said piston having a stem operating the auxiliary valve, substantially as described. Y

6. In combination in a drifting valve for locomotives, a casing, a connection for leadingsaturated steam thereto, amain valve therein, controlling `a port leading to the cylinder steam chest, a` chamber in rear of the main valve, an auxiliary valve admitting saturated steam to said chamber to assist in holding the main valve closed, a piston anda cylinder, said `piston controlling the auxiliary valve, said casing having a passage communicating with the said port which leads to the cylinder steam chest to supply the said cylinder with superheated steam pressure to open said auxiliary valve, substantially as described.

7. A drifting valve for locomotives comrisino" a'casino' liavinof an inlet ort for t) C b saturated steam, a main` valve having its end to.V be seated at said port, and movable in line with the axis of said port, said casing having a laterally extending port communicating with the steam chest of the engine and With the inlet port for saturated steam, said casing having a chamber in rear oi said main valve, an auxiliary valve mounted inthe main valve and lcontrolling communication between the saturated steam supply on the front side ofthemain valve and said chamber and when open admitting steam to` said chamber to assist in holding `.the main valve closed, a piston controlling` the auxiliaryvalve, saidpiston moving coaxially 'with the main valve, the said piston `cylinder being in communication with the ,discharge port to receive the pressure existing at the saine, Whether this be saturated steam received through the said inlet or su- -perheated steamfrom the steam chest Vof the therein, and controlling a port for the inlet 8;;In combination-,in a driftingvalve fory locomotives,lacasing, ya main valve slidable 55 naaaaii piston, and a cylinder, said piston having af rod extending through a head in the casing to the auxiliary valve t-o move the same from its seat, said cylinder being in communication with the steam chest, substantially as described. Y

9. In combination in a drifting valve, a casing, a valve controlling a saturated st-eain supply to the engine steam chest, va piston and cylinder, said cylinder beingin communication `with the steam chest and receiving superheated steamtherefrom, and means op,- erated by the piston for'supplying saturated steam in rear'of the valve to assist inholding the valve to its scat to cut off the saturated steam, `when the engine is running, substantiallyas described.

l0.` In combination in a drifting valve, a casing, a valve controlling a saturated steam supply to the engine steam chest, a` piston and cylinder, said cylinder being inxcommunication vvith the steaincliest kand means op erated by the piston for supplying saturated steam in rear of the valve to assist in holding the valve to its seat, when the engine is running, said saturated steam passing from front to rear Vof the said valve and through `the same, substantially as described.

l1. In a driftingvalve system for locomotives, a connection for delivering saturated steain-to the steam chest of the engine, a drifting valve automatically controlling the passage of steam through said connection, a cut oitl'i valve between the drifting valve and the steam chest for closing said connection and means Ifor operating said cut olf valve at the vvill of the engineer.

l2; In a drifting valve system for locov`motives, a connection for delivering saturated steam to the steam lchest of the engine, a drifting valve automatically controlling the passage of steam through said connection, a cut olf valve between the drifting valve and the steam chest for closing motives, a connection for delivering satu rated steam to the steani chest of the engine, a driftingvalve automatica'lly'controlling the passage ofsteam thioughsaid connection, a cut Orl" valve between theV drifting valve and the steam chest for'closing said connection and means for operating said out oil valve by steam pressure at the will of the engineer, said means consisting ot a piston connected with the valve, a reverse lever, and a supply valve opened by the reverse lever When in neutral position to supply steam to the out oft Valve operating piston, substantially as described.

lll. ln combination, a easing, a valve slidable longitudinally therein, said easing having a port at the trout of said Valve axially in line therewith, to be closed thereby, to control a saturated steam supply to the .steam chest, a passage extending laterally Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the from the interior of the easing adj acent said seat and partly around the casing, a discharge port extending at right angles to the said passage, and communicating therewith, a valve seat at the end of said passage, a valve adapted to said seat, a cylinder, a piston therein controlling.;l the valve for shutting oil' communication between said passage and the discharge port, means for oontrolling the main valve, and a steam sup- Ply valve, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

EORGE F. VVIESECKEL.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, ID. C.

leading to the cylinder of the shut otl' 

